Man Arrested In Fatal Machete Attack On Appalachian Trail

Federal authorities said on Sunday that a Massachusetts man has been arrested on murder charges for allegedly attacking two hikers on the Appalachian Trail with a machete, leaving one one dead and the other severely wounded.

The FBI and United States Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Virginia said in a joint news release that James Jordan, 30, of West Yarmouth, also faces one count of assault with the intent to murder in the Saturday morning incident. Jordan faces federal charges because the stabbing occurred on federal land in the southwestern corner of Virginia.

Authorities received a call about the stabbing between 3:30 a.m. and 4 a.m. Saturday. Jordan was arrested later that morning and will be officially charged on Monday, federal authorities said.